SNOHOMISH -
An eco-terror group is taking responsibility for knocking two large radio antennas to the ground in Snohomish County early Friday morning.
A website called the "legal news service representing the earth liberation movement in North America" features a picture of one of the downed towers with the headline "Earth Liberation Front Topples Two Radio Station Towers in Snohomish County, WA."
In a press release, a spokesperson for the North American Earth Liberation Front Press Office, Jason Crawford, stated: "Due to the health and environmental risks associated with radio waves emitted from the towers, we applaud this act by the ELF. When all legal channels of opposition have been exhausted, concerned citizens have to take action into their own hands to protect life and the planet."
Picture Gallery: Radio Towers Toppled In Snohomish County
The towers -- one that stood nearly 350 feet tall and another smaller tower -- are owned by radio station KRKO. They have been at the center of a heated debate over the past eight or nine years, with the family-owned station fighting opponents of an addition to its existing towers east of Everett.
Neighbors and farmers say the towers destroy the view of the valley. They're also worried about reports that the signal from towers like these can cause cancer in children.
"We have to weigh our priorities and the local ecosystem in Everett, along with the local residents, do not need additional sports news radio station towers that come at the expense of reduced property values and harmful radio waves," Crawford said.
Listen To The Full Interview: Q13 FOX's Interviews The North American Earth Liberation Front's Jason Crawford.
Police say the vandals used a piece of heavy machinery to take down the towers in the 13400 block of Short School Road near Everett. The towers are now bent and twisted from the impact of the construction equipment. The towers also buckled when they hit the ground.
KRKO General Manager Andy Skotdal says a sign left at the scene Friday morning says 'ELF.' The station has transferred its radio transmission and remains on the air.
Around 3:15 a.m. neighbors reported the towers had been knocked down, and they saw three people running from the scene. Police used K-9 units to look for the suspects, but they did not find anyone.
The ELF describes itself as "an international underground organization that uses direct action in the form of economic sabotage to stop the systematic exploitation and destruction of the planet" and claims to have caused more than $150 million in damages to corporations and governmental agencies.
---KRKO Media Statement------------ KRKO Media Statement
At approximately 3:30 a.m. on Friday, September 4, two of our KRKO station broadcast towers in Snohomish were toppled using construction equipment stolen from the site. It is important to note that at this time, law enforcement officials have not confirmed who is responsible for this apparent act of vandalism, and are still actively investigating the incident. We are grateful that no individuals were harmed or injured, and also appreciate the tremendous support we've received from the community and law enforcement today.
KRKO radio (1380 AM) remains on the air and will continue to broadcast using a back-up transmitter site until the original towers are operational again. For the last 87 years, KRKO has been a vital part of supporting the Snohomish County emergency response network and local charities in addition to providing quality sports and community programming. We will continue to support this community for years to come. Our ability to stay on the air uninterrupted is why our station continues to play a critical role in providing timely information to the community in the event of an emergency.
As part of the ongoing investigation, we are offering a $25,000 reward for any information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the individual(s) responsible. People with information should call the FBI at (206) 622-0460 and indicate they have a tip regarding the KRKO towers.
--Andy Skotdal, KRKO owner and general manager
--- A press release from the office of the Earth Liberation Front was sent to newsrooms in the area. The press release is shown below.---
Earth Liberation Front Topples Radio Station Towers in Snohomish County, WA
Everett, WA: Two radio station towers were torn down early Friday by the Earth Liberation Front (ELF) in the Lord's Hills valley in Snohomish County, WA. The towers, owned by station KRKO, have been a source of controversy for years. A sign left at the scene claimed responsibility by the ELF.
"Due to the health and environmental risks associated with radio waves emitted from the towers, we applaud this act by the ELF," stated Jason Crawford, a spokesperson for the North American Earth Liberation Front Press Office. "When all legal channels of opposition have been exhausted, concerned citizens have to take action into their own hands to protect life and the planet."
For the past eight years, opponents have waged a legal battle against the towers, arguing that AM radio waves cause adverse health affects including a higher rate of cancer, harm to wildlife, and that the signals have been interfering with home phone and intercom lines.
Last year, the first four towers were erected by KRKO after numerous hearings and appeals. KRKO plans to build two more towers to boost the station's broadcasting power.
"We have to weigh our priorities and the local ecosystem in Everett, along with the local residents, do not need additional sports news radio station towers that come at the expense of reduced property values and harmful radio waves," Crawford continued. "We sincerely hope that people continue to take direct action to stop the threats to human health, wildlife and the planet."
The E.L.F. is an international underground organization that uses direct action in the form of economic sabotage to stop the systematic exploitation and destruction of the planet. Since its inception in North America in 1996, the ELF has inflicted well over $150 million in damages to corporations and governmental agencies that are profiting from the destruction of the Earth.
The North American Earth Liberation Front Press Office is a legal news agency representing the earth liberation movement. The NAELFPO reports on the covert direct actions taken by the Earth Liberation Front in defense of the planet.
Targeting deforestation, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), urban sprawl, automobile and industry pollution, and other threats to the natural environment, the Earth Liberation Front uses nonviolent economic sabotage to compel industries and governments to reshape their environmentally destructive policies. ----------------------------------
A website called the "legal news service representing the earth liberation movement in North America" features a picture of one of the downed towers with the headline "Earth Liberation Front Topples Two Radio Station Towers in Snohomish County, WA."
In a press release, a spokesperson for the North American Earth Liberation Front Press Office, Jason Crawford, stated: "Due to the health and environmental risks associated with radio waves emitted from the towers, we applaud this act by the ELF. When all legal channels of opposition have been exhausted, concerned citizens have to take action into their own hands to protect life and the planet."
Picture Gallery: Radio Towers Toppled In Snohomish County
The towers -- one that stood nearly 350 feet tall and another smaller tower -- are owned by radio station KRKO. They have been at the center of a heated debate over the past eight or nine years, with the family-owned station fighting opponents of an addition to its existing towers east of Everett.
Neighbors and farmers say the towers destroy the view of the valley. They're also worried about reports that the signal from towers like these can cause cancer in children.
"We have to weigh our priorities and the local ecosystem in Everett, along with the local residents, do not need additional sports news radio station towers that come at the expense of reduced property values and harmful radio waves," Crawford said.
Listen To The Full Interview: Q13 FOX's Interviews The North American Earth Liberation Front's Jason Crawford.
Police say the vandals used a piece of heavy machinery to take down the towers in the 13400 block of Short School Road near Everett. The towers are now bent and twisted from the impact of the construction equipment. The towers also buckled when they hit the ground.
KRKO General Manager Andy Skotdal says a sign left at the scene Friday morning says 'ELF.' The station has transferred its radio transmission and remains on the air.
Around 3:15 a.m. neighbors reported the towers had been knocked down, and they saw three people running from the scene. Police used K-9 units to look for the suspects, but they did not find anyone.
The ELF describes itself as "an international underground organization that uses direct action in the form of economic sabotage to stop the systematic exploitation and destruction of the planet" and claims to have caused more than $150 million in damages to corporations and governmental agencies.
---KRKO Media Statement------------ KRKO Media Statement
At approximately 3:30 a.m. on Friday, September 4, two of our KRKO station broadcast towers in Snohomish were toppled using construction equipment stolen from the site. It is important to note that at this time, law enforcement officials have not confirmed who is responsible for this apparent act of vandalism, and are still actively investigating the incident. We are grateful that no individuals were harmed or injured, and also appreciate the tremendous support we've received from the community and law enforcement today.
KRKO radio (1380 AM) remains on the air and will continue to broadcast using a back-up transmitter site until the original towers are operational again. For the last 87 years, KRKO has been a vital part of supporting the Snohomish County emergency response network and local charities in addition to providing quality sports and community programming. We will continue to support this community for years to come. Our ability to stay on the air uninterrupted is why our station continues to play a critical role in providing timely information to the community in the event of an emergency.
As part of the ongoing investigation, we are offering a $25,000 reward for any information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the individual(s) responsible. People with information should call the FBI at (206) 622-0460 and indicate they have a tip regarding the KRKO towers.
--Andy Skotdal, KRKO owner and general manager
--- A press release from the office of the Earth Liberation Front was sent to newsrooms in the area. The press release is shown below.---
Earth Liberation Front Topples Radio Station Towers in Snohomish County, WA
Everett, WA: Two radio station towers were torn down early Friday by the Earth Liberation Front (ELF) in the Lord's Hills valley in Snohomish County, WA. The towers, owned by station KRKO, have been a source of controversy for years. A sign left at the scene claimed responsibility by the ELF.
"Due to the health and environmental risks associated with radio waves emitted from the towers, we applaud this act by the ELF," stated Jason Crawford, a spokesperson for the North American Earth Liberation Front Press Office. "When all legal channels of opposition have been exhausted, concerned citizens have to take action into their own hands to protect life and the planet."
For the past eight years, opponents have waged a legal battle against the towers, arguing that AM radio waves cause adverse health affects including a higher rate of cancer, harm to wildlife, and that the signals have been interfering with home phone and intercom lines.
Last year, the first four towers were erected by KRKO after numerous hearings and appeals. KRKO plans to build two more towers to boost the station's broadcasting power.
"We have to weigh our priorities and the local ecosystem in Everett, along with the local residents, do not need additional sports news radio station towers that come at the expense of reduced property values and harmful radio waves," Crawford continued. "We sincerely hope that people continue to take direct action to stop the threats to human health, wildlife and the planet."
The E.L.F. is an international underground organization that uses direct action in the form of economic sabotage to stop the systematic exploitation and destruction of the planet. Since its inception in North America in 1996, the ELF has inflicted well over $150 million in damages to corporations and governmental agencies that are profiting from the destruction of the Earth.
The North American Earth Liberation Front Press Office is a legal news agency representing the earth liberation movement. The NAELFPO reports on the covert direct actions taken by the Earth Liberation Front in defense of the planet.
Targeting deforestation, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), urban sprawl, automobile and industry pollution, and other threats to the natural environment, the Earth Liberation Front uses nonviolent economic sabotage to compel industries and governments to reshape their environmentally destructive policies. ----------------------------------
